'Can't Provide Funds To Our Workers': Congress Leaders Highlight I-T 'Freeze' Amid LS Campaigning

Lok Sabha Election 2024: Congress party's candidates said they are grappling with financial constraints due to the alleged freezing of the party's accounts by the Modi government

File photo of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor with Kerala Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan

Source : Facebook/@ShashiTharoor

Congress party's candidates campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections said they are grappling with financial constraints due to the alleged freezing of the party's accounts by the Union government. Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor, who is also the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, on Tuesday highlighted the challenges faced by party candidates due to the lack of financial support from the party.

"The party has had its accounts frozen and is unable to give us the kind of support we would have liked to have from our party," said Tharoor, acknowledging the financial predicament faced by Congress candidates, as quoted by news agency PTI. Despite the constraints, Tharoor expressed confidence in the dedication of Congress workers and their ability to carry out the campaign effectively.

"We have, nonetheless, very loyal and hardworking Congress workers everywhere who are doing what they can, and when the Election Commission allows us to raise funds legally from the public, we will do so," he added, as per PTI's report.

Echoing similar sentiments, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan highlighted the lack of funds for poll campaigning faced by Congress candidates. Satheesan noted that unlike rival parties such as the BJP and CPI(M), the Congress is unable to provide funds to its workers. Despite this, he expressed confidence in the electorate's commitment to democracy over financial influence.

"We cannot provide funds to our workers like the BJP and the CPI(M) can. The people of Kerala know that. Through their votes, they will show that democracy is more important than money and propaganda," said Satheesan, emphasising the significance of democracy in the electoral process, the report stated.

Satheesan also criticised the actions of the ruling government, labelling it as "fascist" for freezing the accounts of the main opposition party. He expressed determination in the Congress's fight against what he perceives as a threat to democracy.

"We are fighting against such a fascist government, unlike the CPI(M)," he asserted.

BJP Disputes Congress Claims On Frozen Bank Accounts

Last week, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Congress party of making misleading statements regarding its bank accounts. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that only three to four of Congress's accounts have been attached for non-payment of tax dues, not frozen, as claimed by the opposition.

"These bank accounts have not been frozen, they are operational. You (Congress) can deposit money in these accounts and withdraw too, except Rs 125 crore, which has been attached by the Income Tax department due to the non-payment of dues as per Income Tax rules," said Patra, as per PTI.

He further criticised senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent remarks on the party's financial status, demanding a technical explanation instead of a political one. More On It: Just 3-4 Accounts Of Congress Attached By I-T Dept, 'Not Frozen': BJP Alleges Misleading Statements

Earlier, the senior Congress leadership claimed that Rs 210 crore had been marked as lien in their frozen accounts, citing notices from the Income Tax department for various financial irregularities dating back to 1994-95. Kharge labelled the BJP's actions as a dangerous game with significant ramifications, urging the courts to uphold the rule of law.